Kyle Kirkwood capped the 2026 IndyCar season with a second-place championship finish, trailing only Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin in the finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Season performance in a nutshell
Racing the #27 Andretti Global Honda, Kirkwood amassed 545 points, 86 behind champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
His record includes two race victories, six podium finishes, ten top‑five and fifteen top‑ten results, plus a single pole.
Lucas, the 27‑year‑old Floridian, proved the driver who led Andretti Global’s title push throughout the 18‑race campaign.
The finale strategy
During the last day at Laguna Seca, the crew prioritized tire conservation over aggression.
Kirkwood admitted that “playing it a little bit safer” was a deliberate choice aimed at securing the championship, with the option to challenge McLaughlin not a priority.
“We made all the decisions for the championship,” he said, reflecting on the balanced approach between risk and reward.
Team‑wide momentum
The surge in results extended beyond Kirkwood. Teammates Will Power and Marcus Ericsson delivered strong finishes in the season’s closing stages.
Andretti Global’s collective performance, especially at short oligov circuits, suggests a solid foundation for the next year.
Looking ahead: areas for growth
Kirkwood identified key growth targets, including improving consistency at the Indy 500, the team’s weakest track statistically.
He also mentioned refining strategies for short ovals and certain road courses to tighten their overall racecraft.
By tackling these nuances, Andretti Global plans to climb the ladder of the IndyCar elite.
With these lessons in play, Kirkwood and the organization project an even tighter championship contest next season.”
"